Housing is a social determinant of health. Housing refers to dwelling places on a continuum from homelessness to affordable home ownership. Homelessness is defined as the experience of people when they are:
- living on the street or in an unfit, substandard or unsafe place not meant for "human habitation";
- staying in an emergency shelter;
- staying in temporary and insecure housing; or
- at risk of homelessness.[1]
Why is this important?
The affordability, size, and condition of a person's home impacts their physical and mental health.[2] When people spend most of their money on housing, they may have difficulty paying for all other basic necessities, including food, clothing and school supplies. Homes that are not in good condition may contain mold or pests, or have safety hazards, which increases the risk of both chronic disease and injury.[3] Infectious diseases spread more quickly when many people live together in cramped quarters.[3] People who are homeless are more likely to have poor physical and mental health, to contract infectious diseases and to suffer injuries related to substance use.[4]
Homelessness
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People may experience different types of homelessness:[5,6]
- Chronic homelessness - those who are homeless for 6 months or more.
- Episodic homelessness - those who were homeless three or more times in the past year.
- Transitional homelessness - those who are homeless for a short time, usually for less than a month.
Number of People Experiencing Homelessness - Point-in-Time Count
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This measure presents the number of people in Guelph and Wellington County who were identified as homeless on October 20, 2021.
The Homelessness Point-in-Time Count was conducted by volunteers who identified and counted people who were homeless on October 20, 2021 in Guelph and Wellington County.[7] Two different surveys were used to gather information: the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) and the Ontario Enumeration Survey. A unique identifier was also used to count individuals experiencing homelessness who did not complete the surveys and were known to be staying in emergency or domestic violence shelters on October 20, 2021, as well as those actively homeless on the Guelph-Wellington By-Name List in October. The unique identifier was used to ensure no one was counted more than once.[7]
Key Findings
In total, 270 people were identified as homeless in Guelph and Wellington County during the 2021 Homelessness Point-in-Time Count. One hundred eighty-five (185) individuals completed the surveys: 141 adults (age 25 years and over), 20 unaccompanied youth (age 16 to 24 years), and 24 child dependents (age 18 years and younger). An additional 85 individuals were identified as homeless through administrative data; age and dependency status were not collected for these individuals.
Homelessness does not affect all individuals equally. Nearly 1 in 4 survey respondents (23%) identified as Indigenous. The majority of survey respondents (65%) also identified as male and 2% identified as non-cis gender.
Due to the limitations of a point-in-time count (see below), this should be considered the minimum number of people who are homeless in our community.
Source: County of Wellington Housing Services. (2021). Guelph-Wellington 2021 Everyone Counts. https://www.wellington.ca/en/social-services/hs-2021-pit-count.aspx
Limitations
It is impossible to have an exact number of people who are homeless because some people who are homeless may not be known to service providers and/or may be part of the hidden homeless, people who "live temporarily with others but without guarantee of continued residency or immediate prospects for accessing permanent housing".[1] The Homelessness Point-in-Time Count gives a "snapshot" of the number of people experiencing homelessness at one point in the year. The count may not capture changes in the population's demographics or size that result from seasonal or other influences.[8]
The 2021 results are not directly comparable to the 2018 Homelessness Point-in-Time Count due to changes in methodology. The 2018 count only included individuals that completed the survey whereas the 2021 count also included individuals staying in the shelter system and on the by-name list. The COVID-19 pandemic also influenced how the 2021 count was carried out. In 2018, the count involved over 100 staff and volunteers deployed in April (over 3 days in Guelph and over a week in Wellington County). In 2021, the count involved fewer staff and volunteers deployed in October over 2 days in both Guelph and Wellington County.[7]
Looking for more information?
Please download the excel file below for more information about this measure and data from the 2016 and 2018 Homelessness Point-in-Time Count.
Download Full Dataset
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Number of People Experiencing Homelessness - By-Name List
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The By-Name List is a real-time list of all people experiencing homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County. Information gathered through the By-Name List helps understand who is coming into the homelessness system (inflow) and who is being housed and leaving the system (outflow). In addition to the number of people actively experiencing homelessness, tracking inflow and outflow in our community helps inform action (such as setting priorities and allocating resources) and measure progress toward ending chronic homelessness.[9]
The By-Name List is managed by the County of Wellington. More information about the By-Name List, including inflow, outflow, and actively homeless, can be found in the County of Wellington Housing Services' Status and Activity Reports.
The number of people actively experiencing chronic homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County is also reported monthly through the Built for Zero Canada dashboard. Note that this dashboard does not include data about the inflow into and outflow from homelessness.
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Why is Homelessness Important?
The majority of people who experience homelessness experience it as a one-time event. The likelihood of experiencing the negative impacts of homelessness increases the longer a person is homeless.[6] Homelessness contributes to a higher risk of social problems and involvement in criminal activity. It is also connected to poor physical and mental health, and increases in hospital, shelter and prison stays.[4,10] People who are homeless have a higher risk of dying than the general population.[11] Homelessness is also connected to stress, poor hygiene, lack of sleep, injuries, chronic conditions caused by malnutrition and to a higher likelihood of experiencing violence or trauma.[10]
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Housing Need
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Core Housing Need
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A household is in core housing need when it meets two criteria: the household is below one or more of the adequacy, suitability, and affordability standards AND the household would have to spend 30% or more of its before-tax household income to access local housing that meets all three standards. Housing is adequate when it does not require any major repairs. Housing is suitable when it has enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the household. Housing is affordable when housing costs are less than 30% of before-tax household income.[12,13]
The chart below presents the percent of households living in core housing need in Guelph and Wellington County.
Key Findings
In 2021, Wellington County (not including Guelph) had the lowest proportion of households living in core housing need (5.3%) compared to Guelph (10.8%), Ontario (12.1%), and Canada (10.1%). Within Wellington County, Wellington North had the greatest proportion of households living in core housing need (8.9%); Minto and Erin had the lowest proportion (3.1% and 3.3%, respectively). Since 2016 (the previous census year) the percent of households living in core housing need has decreased in Guelph and Wellington County, and in all municipalities and townships except Mapleton where it increased slightly.
*Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph.
Source: Statistics Canada. 2022. (table). Census Profile. 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Ottawa. Released October 26, 2022. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed November 3, 2022).
Renters were much more likely to live in core housing need when compared to home owners. In Guelph and Wellington County (not including Guelph), 5.2% and 2.9% of home owners lived in core housing need compared to 21.8% and 16.6% of renters, respectively.
*Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph.
Source: Statistics Canada. 2022. (table). Census Profile. 2021 Census of Population. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001. Ottawa. Released October 26, 2022. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (accessed November 3, 2022).
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Core Housing Need, by Household Type
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In 2016, recent immigrants in Centre Wellington and Ontario were most likely to live in core housing need when compared to all other household types. In Guelph and Canada, female lone-parents were most likely to live in core housing need.
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Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (Census-based housing indicators and data)
*The term "Indigenous Households" has been used to replace the term "Aboriginal households" which was the terminology used in the source data. An Indigenous Household is where at least 50% of residents or one spouse in a couple or a sole parent identify(ies) as indigenous.
**Recent immigrants arrived in Canada between January 1, 2011 and May 10, 2016 (within the 10 year period before data above was collected).
***An immigrant household is where the person who pays the main household costs is or has been an immigrant or permanent resident.
****Activity Limitations include mental or physical health challenges that make it difficult for people to "carry out daily activities", such as communicating or walking. A household with activity limitations refers to a "household with at least one person with activity limitations"
Sources for definitions above can be found in downloadable excel spreadsheet below.
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Why is Housing Need Important?
Housing affects physical and mental wellbeing.[2] Everyone should have access to a home that is affordable, big enough to fit the number of people who live in the household, and in good condition.
Looking for more information?
Please download the Excel file below:
Download Full Dataset
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Availability of Rental Housing
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Rental Vacancy Rate
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| Vacancy rate is the proportion of all rental units that are not occupied and are available for rent. Once a year, vacancy rate information is gathered through telephone interviews and site visits that take place during the first two weeks of October in urban areas with a population of 10,000 people or more.[14]
Note: Vacancy rates displayed below include information on rental apartment structures and rental row (townhouse) structures. To see individual vacancy rates for rental apartment structures and rental row (townhouse) structures, please see the downloadable dataset below.
Key Findings
In October 2023, the average apartment/row vacancy rate (for all bedroom types) was 2.0% in Centre Wellington and 1.3% in Guelph. Overall, average vacancy rates in both communities have been consistently below the 3% vacancy rate target of a healthy rental market.[15,16]
Sources:
Why is the Vacancy Rate Important?
The vacancy rate provides an indication of the amount of rental units available. When vacancy rates are low (below 3%) it can be difficult for people to find affordable housing that meets their needs.
Limitations
The vacancy rate only includes structures that are considered part of the primary rental market (buildings with three or more rental units that are not owned as condominiums).[13] The secondary market, which includes all rental units not included in the primary rental market, is not included in the data above. A 2017 report indicates that 45% of rental units in the City of Guelph are part of the secondary market.[17]
Looking for more information?
Please download the excel file below for:
- More information about this measure
- Average vacancy rates by apartment bedroom types
Download Full Dataset
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References
[1] Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. (2012). Canadian Definition of Homelessness. Homeless Hub. www.homelesshub.ca/homelessdefinition/
[2] Public Health Agency of Canada. (2009). Report: The state of Public Health in Canada 2009. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cphorsphc-respcacsp/2009/fr-rc/cphorsphc-respcacsp07-eng.php
[3] Krieger, J., & Higgins, D. L. (2002). Housing and Health: Time Again for Public Health Action. American Journal of Public Health, 92(5): 758-768.
[4] Wellesley Institute. (2010). Precarious Housing in Canada. http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Precarious_Housing_In_Canada.pdf
[5] Government of Canada. (2016). Homelessness Partnering Strategy Directives. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/homeless/homeless-directives.html#d1
[6] Gaetz, S., Donaldson, J., Richter, T., & Gulliver, T. (2013). The State of Homelessness in Canada 2013. Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.
[7] County of Wellington Housing Services. (2021). Guelph-Wellington 2021 Everyone Counts. https://www.wellington.ca/en/social-services/hs-2021-pit-count.aspx
[8] Ellery, R. (2018). Everyone Counts: 2018 Guelph-Wellington Point-in-Time Count. Guelph, ON: Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination. https://www.gwpoverty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Everyone-Counts-2018-Point-in-Time-Count.pdf
[9] County of Wellington. (n.d.). Homelessness and housing stability. https://www.wellington.ca/en/social-services/hs-housing-stability.aspx#What-is-a-By-Name-List-BNL-
[10] Eberle, M., Kraus, K., Serge, L., & Hulchanski, D. (2001). Homelessness - Causes & Effects. The Relationship between Homelessness and the Health, Social Services and Criminal Justice Systems: A Review of the Literature. British Columbia Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security. http://www.urbancentre.utoronto.ca/pdfs/researchassociates/4_vol_report/Vol1.pdf
[11] Hwang, S.W. (2001). Homelessness and Health. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 164(2): 229-233.
[12] Statistics Canada. (2021). Core housing need of private household. https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3Var.pl?Function=DEC&Id=1230313
[13] CMHC. (2019). Identifying core housing need. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/professionals/housing-markets-data-and-research/housing-research/core-housing-need/identifying-core-housing-need
[14] Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2022). Methodology for Rental Market Survey. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/professionals/housing-markets-data-and-research/housing-research/surveys/methods/methodology-rental-market-survey
[15] Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2016). Housing Market Information: Rental Market Report Guelph CMA.
[16] Shapcott, M. (2010). Painfully Low Vacancy Rates, Shrinking Number of Homes: New National Report Underlines Rental Housing Woes Across Canada. http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/housing/painfully-low-vacancy-rates-shrinking-number-of-homes-new-national-report-underlines-rental-housing-woes-across-canada/
[17] City of Guelph. (2017). Affordable Housing Strategy: The Current State of Housing in the City of Guelph. https://guelph.ca/wp-content/uploads/AHSFinalConsolidationJuly242017.pdf
